EVES Open Returns To Pāpāmoa For 2026

Photo: Pāpāmoa Tennis Club president Kevin Mayall, EVES Pāpāmoa agent Anna-Marie Barrett and EVES Pāpāmoa branch manager Meagan Swainson can’t wait for the 2026 EVES Open. Photo / Kelly O’Hara / SunLive


Professional tennis will return to the Bay of Plenty this summer, with the EVES Open set to bring another week of world-class competition to Pāpāmoa Tennis Club.

The 2026 EVES Open, a part of the World Tennis Tour, will see some of the world’s best emerging players battle it out for official WTA and ATP ranking points and more than $60,000 in prize money.

Now entering its fifth year, the tournament has established itself as a highlight of the Bay of Plenty summer, attracting international players while giving New Zealand athletes the opportunity to compete for valuable ranking points on home soil.

Tauranga City Council is proud to support the tournament through the Tauranga Event Fund, supporting arts, cultural, and sporting events that bring visitors to the city, support the local economy, and add to the vibrancy of Tauranga as a place to live and visit.

Pāpāmoa Ward Councillor Steve Morris says he’s excited to see the EVES Open World Tennis Tour return to Pāpāmoa.

“It’s brilliant to have this prestigious event played right here in our community. It gives locals the chance to experience elite-level international tennis for free, right here at home, rather than having to travel to Auckland or further afield. It’s a great chance for our young players to be inspired by the top athletes competing here.

“Pāpāmoa Tennis Club is a fantastic community venue right by our beautiful coastline, and it’s a pretty special place to host an international tournament like this. I hope to see fans and families come along and enjoy the atmosphere in December.”

Naming rights sponsor EVES Realty, who have backed the event from the start, are ready for another edition, and have enjoyed seeing the event grow year on year.

“EVES is proud to have supported the EVES Open every year since its inception in 2022. Seeing full banks of spectators throughout the week during last year's event is proof that locals are well aware of the amazing opportunity available to them, to see rising stars of the international game for free, without leaving the Bay of Plenty,” says Vicki Semple, Sponsorship and Events Manger, EVES Bay of Plenty.

“Our Pāpāmoa team are passionate locals themselves, who love seeing the vibrant action at the tennis club that the tournament brings, on and off the court.”

The tournament has also become a favourite among visiting players, with competitors regularly praising the atmosphere, hospitality and support from the Pāpāmoa community. These rising stars of the game give Pāpāmoa locals the chance to catch future Grand Slam players live, in their own backyard.

2025 Men’s Singles Champion Keegan Smith has climbed into the world’s top 200 since his win last year, while 2024 Women’s Singles Champion Janice Tjen has enjoyed most of her time since her EVES Open win in the WTA top 100.

Courtside hospitality tables will also return, giving spectators the chance to enjoy food and wine just metres from the action.

Public entry to the tournament is free throughout the week, with spectators able to get close to the action and enjoy the matches from the grass banks surrounding the Pāpāmoa Tennis Club courts.

For more information and expressions of interest for courtside hospitality tables:

Click here